Latch construction



Feb. 20, 1951 MAlN 2,542,876

LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed April 30, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l //v VENMR A/vomsw NA IN.

Feb. 20, 1951 A. MAIN LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed April 30, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVf/VTOR.

AA/bmw MAI/v. 51 /%QM4 WM.

ATTORNE Y6 Feb. 20, 1951 A. MAIN LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed April 30, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /3 ATTORNEYdT.

Patented Feb. 20, 1951 AT H: CO TRII IZ Q AndtewMain, Cleveland; Ohio App i a n Apr l. 945,seemgnmerua zifilaimst 1.:

This invention relates toimprovenrents infare boxes or coin boxes and more particularly to the money-box or drawer and cooperatingmeans onthe cabinet housingthe same; for insuring-that all: coins or fares deposited in the cabinet are received into the drawer and" that the drawer is locked before it isremovedg from the cabinet.

An objectofthe present invention is to provide positiye means for closing the fare box cover by the mere act of'withdrawing the box from the cabin Another novel feature of my present inventi o n is the provision of a two-positioned" keeper for the lock of the fare box cover whereby the l'QQk bolt. is compelled to pass the first position of; the keeper before the box and cover thereof are in positionto be withdrawn from the cabinet.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more f ul;ly described" in the accompanying drawings and; specification, and the essential features thfireof will be summarized in the ap ende c aims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 isv a perspective view of my improved fare box partially inserted in a cabinet or hous ing or he s me;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of Fig. I somewhat enlarged: and; with the fare box completely inserted in the cabinetg certain of the parts being broken away to,more' clearly show the structure; I

Fig. 3 is. a fragmental sectional view taken along the line 3-3.of; Fig. 2

Fig.4; is a view similar to a portion Of Fig. 3 showing another positionofthe parts;

Fig. 5'is atop plan view of the" fare box taken insubstantially the position of line 5-5 of" Fig. 2 bot with the lid of the box closed and partially broken away to illustrate the; construction;

Fig. 6jis a fragmental' sectional view taken along the line 6"6 of"Fig 57 Fig. 7 is. a jragmental sectionar view taken along the line 'i 1 of Fig. 8* but-with box- H somewhat more removedfrom the cabinet; while Fig. 8.is a sectional; view-taken along the line 88 of Fig. 1.

My. invention is shown. in combination with a fare-depositin cabinet or. housing lO such as s n man ubl rans a i n ystems and othenplaces where tokens, coins, tickets or; the like are deposited, but it will be; understood hat man i. he: e tures; m n nti y be utilizedin connection, with the boxes for the deposit of coins tokens, or tickets, whatever the shape of the box or drawer and" whatever the type of cabinet orhousing in which the sameis inserted.

In the; device shown in Fig. I, the upper portion of the" cabinet [0' is arranged for the deposit of coins or tokens which drop through a series of battles for deposit in the fare box or drawer II' which is inserted in and completely surroundedby' the lower walls of the cabinet I 0;; One side wall isprovided with the opening l-Oa through which the boxis inserted after which the opening is closed by means; of the hinged cabinet door Iflb; This door is then locked by means ofthelocklot-indicated; One ofthe features of my invention is an arrangement which, insures that the topdoor Ha of the farebox will be: started along a predetermined path of travel; before thecabinet door Nib can be closed, the arrangement including means which insurestha-t-t-he cover llawill" first befully opened sothat all coins or tokens dropped into the cabinet H1 will be received within the box H; and'thereafterthe box H can only be withdrawn; by causing the top Ila to continue alonga predetermined path which insures that the top cover Il'wis; firmly looked in I closed position; before the box H isagain' withdrawn from the cabinet [0:

The means by which lf-carry out the abovedescribed purpose is most clearly shown in Fig. fiftaken in combination: with the other views of the drawings. The cover Ila is fastened to the top of" box H by means of? the hinge pin l 'l b The cover thus has a horizonta-l-hinge connection whereby the oscillation of the cover takes place ina; vertical plane about the pivot Mb. Near" the freeedge of -the cover Ha are a pair of laterally extending lugs I I'c which project outside of the-side edges Hd of the cover. It will be noted that these side edges;- enter into complementary shoulders lie on the top side walls ofthe box as; best seen in Fig; 5: Prefera-bly, the top face ot the coverlla' liessubstantially flush withthe tops i of the side walls when the cover-is-* closed. Notch-es Hg are provided in the side; wallsof the bOx to accommodate the lower portion of* the generally cylindrieal logs; Hc when the-boxcover iscl0sed Guideways are provided secured to the inner walls of the cabinet IO to receiveand guide-the lugs tic-alongthe desired pathof travel. While I have shown two lugs llcoppositely disposed and a guidewayfor each of them', it'shouldbe understood that? one; lug and} one controlwg'uide way therefor might be used; but I prefer to; use two as shown:

Oneofthese guideways I2 is clearly-shown in horizontally rearwardly at the portion I la where the lugs lIc pass by a ratchet-retaining device to be later described. The second guideway indicated at I I have called a cover-closing guideway, and this extends downwardly and forwardly with respect to the opening IIla'as wheel I9 but prevents counterclockwise move ment thereof. The double ratchet mechanism is protected against tampering by a cover member 24 which is secured to base plate 2| and has side walls and a top cover parallel to the base position shown'in Fig. '7 near arrow A, the rear clearly seen in Fig. 7. The lower portion of this guideway on the forward wall is given a special shape as shown at I5a for a purpose later described. The third guideway It extends generally horizontally from front to rear and has a portion Ilia extending forwardly from the guideway I5 and a portion liib extending rearwardly therefrom. When the box II is inserted into thecabinet through the opening IEia in ver tical position, as shown in Fig. 1, the operator holds the cover IIa slightly open so that the lugs IIc enter the guideways I4. Then as the box II is inserted into the cabinet moving in a generally horizontal direction, the lugs I I0 travel upwardly and rearwardly alon the guideway I4 and along the portion I4a aroundthe ratchet device (which can move in a clockwise direction only as seen in Fig. '7), the lugs IIc moving to the dot-dash position of Fig. '7 and then following the arrow A until the box II is wholly within the cabinet II] so that the door Illboan be closed.

When the box II is withdrawn, the lugs IIc M cannot return down the guideway I4 because of the one-way ratchet device, and, therefore, the lugs IIc follow the arrows B forwardly and downwardly along the guideway I5 until the cover is forced closed by the pressure of the rib I2c along the guideway portion I5a, after which the lugs may be moved horizontally outwardlyalong the guideway Ilia.

g -In Fig. 7, I have indicated a dot-dash circlev near corner I3 showing the position of a lug Ilc after cover Ila is closed and the box II is inserted into the cabinet I0 without attempting to open the cover Hot. In this closed position, the lug will pass the rib H, but when it reaches the corner iii, the portion Ifib of the guideway is too narrowto permit the lug IIc to pass. At this time, the box II still projects out the front of the cabinet Id, and this insures that the box I I cannot be fully inserted in the cabinet II) with the door Ila closed.

The dog mechanism which prevents the withdrawal of the lugs lie in the opposite direction along guideway I4 from their normal entering path is best seen in Fig. '7. While a single ratchet device might be used at this point, I prefer the double ratchet arrangement shown. The ratchet wheel I9 is pivotally mounted to the base plate I2a by means of the pivot I9a. The ratchet wheel 29 is in like manner pivoted about the pin 29a. A gravity actuated holding dog 2| pivoted on the base plate at 2Ia permits counterclockwise rotation of the wheel 20 but prevents clockwise rotation thereof. The dog 22 pivotally mounted on the base plate at 22a and sprin pressed downwardly and toward the edge-of box II is at the position indicated in full in Fig. 8. Therefore, at this time the box II still extends outside the cabinet I0 so that the door IIlb cannot be closed. It will thus be seen that the lug He has passed the ratchet wheel I9 to a position where the holding dog 22 prevents the Withdrawal of the lug Ho and the boxcover back down the guideway I4 for removal of the box II. It is, therefore, necessary in order to. close the cabinet door Ifib that'the box 'I I should be inserted so far into the cabinet that the lugs He has passed the holding device so that the only possible way of removing the box II is to continue along the path previously described into the guideway I5 which, as stated before, compels the closing and locking of the cover Ila before the box II is removed from the cabinet. It results from thisv construction that when the box II isfully positioned inside the cabinet I8, the foolproof operation of the cover IIa is insured. No coins or fares can be collected in the box II subject to pilfering by the operator. All of these coins or fares will be safely locked in the box 'II before it is again removed from the cabinet.

Novel locking means is'provided for holding the cover I Ia in closed position on the box. The lock bolt 25 is carried in a housing 26 which is secured by cap screws 26a to the inside face of the cover Ila. These fastening members do not extend through'the outside wall of the cover, and, therefore, the mechanism in housing 26 cannot be tampered with. The key 21 for controlling the lock bolt 25 is inserted into the housing 26 through the opening 27a.

Novel keeper mechanism is provided for lock bolt 25. This keeper mechanism is wholly within the box II so that it cannot be tampered with. As best seen in Figs. 3, 4, and 6, a pair of star wheels 23 are provided,-each rotatably mounted on a base plate 25. Two-position dog' means is provided for each of these star wheels which may take various forms, but as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, each wheel is provided with a dog 30 pivotally mounted on the base plate 29 at 30a. Each dog has two notches 30b and 360 adapted to engage one'of the projections of the associated star wheel. A spring 3| urges the dog into engagement with the star wheel. As the lock bolt 25 moves downwardly from the broken line position of Fig. 3 to the broken line position of Fig. 4, it carries the star wheel projections from the position of Fig. 3 where the notches 300 are holding to the position of Fig. 4 where the notches 3% are holding. After the lock bolt 25 reaches the broken line position of Fig. 4, the spring pressed follower member 32 (whosepurpose will be later described) moves. the bolt.upwardly slightly to the full line position of Fig. 4. In this position the cover Ila is not fully closed, but the lock bolt is so held by the projections of the star wheels, as shown in Fig. 4, that it is impossible to open the cover I la. When the cover I la is moved still further downwardly to the full line position of Fig. 3, the star wheels are again in position where they are held by the notches 30c, and the lock bolt 25 is in the full line position of Fig. 3 firmly held between the two star wheels which will not permit the opening of the cover I la. As viewed in Fig. 3, the holding dogs prevent clockwise movement of the right-hand star wheel 28 and prevent counterclockwise movement of the lefthand star wheel 28. The entire double star wheel keeper mechanism is housed against access thereto by means of side flanges 290 which extend around three sides of the base plate so as to hold the base plate spaced from the wall [Id of the box I! and parallel thereto as best seen in Fig. 2. This supports the star wheel mechanism and associated parts for free movement between plate 29 and the box wall I Id. Means is provided passing through the openings 29d to secure the plate 29 to the wall lld. Thus, as mentioned above, the entire keeper mechanism is inside of the box H and completely protected from the coins or tokens.

The purpose of the almost-closed lock position described in the preceding paragraph is to provide a safety feature whereby even the slightest approach of the box cover to a closed position re sults in looking the cover. During the use of applicants device there may be a wearing of the parts as they go through the cycle described in connection with Fig. 7 and it may happen that through poor workmanship or wearing of the parts or tampering with the apparatus, it will be desirable to lock the box cover even though it should not be completely closed. It should be understood that the bolt 25 must be withdrawn by a key inserted in the lock at 21a in order to open the box cover. In other words, the star wheels 28 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 always move in one direction only.

The purpose of the follower member 32 will now be described. It will be noted in Figs. 3 and 4 that there is a slotted opening 29a in the base plate 29 to permit the entrance of the lock bolt 25 between the star wheels 28. Coins or fares might enter into the star wheel mechanism through this slotted opening. Therefore, the follower member 32 is provided having a sliding fit against the base plate 29 and inside of the housing which otherwise completely incloses the star wheel mechanism. This follower is provided with a rigidly connected stem 32a which is urged upwardly by means of the spring 33 which is held in compression between abutment 2912 on the base plate and the cotter pin 34 which passes through the stem 32a. Thus the follower member 32 always has its fiat upper edge in tight engagement against the lower face of lock bolt 25, and prevents the entrance of coins or fares into the star wheel mechanism.

It results from the various constructions above described and the positioning and tensioning of the parts that foolproof depositing and accounting for coins, fares, or the like is insured by the use of my improved box. A visual inspection of the cabinet [0 will tell whether the collection box H has been fully inserted therein or not. If the collection box is fully inserted within the cabinet, those in charge are assured that the cover of the collection box is in open position so that all coins or fares deposited will fall within the box H, and this box cannot be again withdrawn without the cover thereof being first completely locked, and no parts of the locking mechanism of the collection box are in position to be tampered with.

What I claim is:

1. Means for locking a box having a hinged cover, said locking means comprising a lock bolt carried by said cover on the inside surface of the latter and projectable toward a free edge of said cover, a pair of star wheels rotatable in planes at right angles to the general path of bolt movement, said star wheels being rotatably mounted on said box on opposite sides of the path of movement of said bolt, dog means for permitting rotation of said wheels to pass said lock bolt downwardly and for preventing the opposite rotation of said wheels, said wheels presenting a pair of points toward said bolt spaced to permit entrance of said bolt between them, and said wheels presenting a pair of points, next in series to said first named pair, toward said bolt and spaced to prevent passage of said bolt between them, whereby said bolt may enter between the more widely spaced wheel points and engage the more closely spaced points to rotate said wheels until said bolt lies below a pair of closely spaced points where said dog means acts to retain aid bolt.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said dog means engages said star wheels to hold the latter in two positions, there being coacting points on said wheels extending toward each other in each of said two positions, said points spaced apart less than the width of said bolt.

ANDREW MAIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,070,580 Breithaupt Aug. 19, 1913 1,105,620 Cook Aug. 4, 1914 1,105,621 Cook Aug. 4, 1914 1,293,695 Burrows Feb. 11, 1919 1,459,701 Willis June 19, 1923 1,504,992 Stewart Aug. 12, 1924 1,628,508 McElligott May 10, 1927 1,891,224 Edwards Dec. 20, 1932 1,934,105 Totty Nov. '7, 1933 

